Scientists make stunning discovery of fossil belonging to 240 million-year-old 'dragon'

In the latest discovery, scientists have found a new and remarkably complete fossil which is said to belong to a 16ft (5m) long aquatic reptile that existed in the Triassic period.

According to scientists, the creature is around 240 million years old and has been called a "dragon" since it has an extremely long neck. It is also known as Dinocephalosaurus orientalis, which is a species that was originally identified in 2003.

This newly found fossil has permitted scientists to analyse the full anatomy of the bizarre prehistoric beast. An international team discovered the fossil from Guizhou Province in southern China, which was then displayed at the National Museums Scotland.

Dr Nick Fraser, who was part of the international team which closely studied the fossil, said that for the first time, scientists have been able to locate the fossil in full. He said that it was "a very strange animal".

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"It had flipper-like limbs and its neck is longer than its body and tail combined," Dr Fraser said.

The researcher said that the animal's "long, bendy and flexible neck", which has 32 separate vertebrae, might have given a hunting advantage and allowed Dinocephalosaurus orientalis to search for food present in crevices under the water.

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Fossil discovered in ancient limestone deposits in southern China

The scientists discovered the fossil in ancient limestone deposits in southern China.

"This discovery just adds to the weirdness of the Triassic," said Dr Fraser, while speaking to BBC News. "And every time we look in these deposits, we find something new,” he added.

Scientists claimed that the animal appeared similar to Tanystropheus hydroides which is a marine reptile from the Middle Triassic period.

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"Both reptiles were of similar size and have several features of the skull in common, including a fish-trap type of dentition. However, Dinocephalosaurus is unique in possessing many more vertebrae both in the neck and in the torso, giving the animal a much more snake-like appearance," the research team said, as reported by ABC News.

The international team added that the reptile was "clearly very well adapted to an oceanic lifestyle," as indicated by the flippered limbs and "exquisitely preserved" fishes in its stomach region.

The team had experts from different countries including Scotland, Germany, the United States and China. The paper, which described a set of new fossils of the animal, has been published in the journal Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

(With inputs from agencies)